Bill > HB3725

This bill aims to reform solitary confinement practices in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), focusing on the treatment of prisoners affiliated with Security Threat Groups (STGs). The legislation abolishes indefinite solitary confinement (Restricted Housing or RH) based solely on STG membership, mandating that RH assignments must be based on actual behavioral infractions. The bill introduces a two-year step-down program for STG affiliates, allowing gradual return to general population, with only major violent offenses potentially extending confinement. A new custody level called Restricted Custody General Population (RCGP) will be created as a secure alternative to solitary confinement, offering prisoners more movement, group recreation, family visits, and access to rehabilitative programs. Importantly, any individual who has been in RH for more than five years as of January 2026 and has not committed serious infractions will be immediately released to the general population, with a strict 10-year maximum limit on solitary confinement. The underlying purpose is to promote rehabilitation, protect prisoners' constitutional rights, and ensure that disciplinary actions are proportionate and focused on actual behavior rather than group affiliation. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, signaling a significant shift in TDCJ's approach to prisoner classification and confinement.

Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3725